8/25/2016 - ‘Day With Mayor’ Finds Shelter Puppy New Home in Record Time with Regional Business Leader

‘Day With
Mayor’ Finds Shelter Puppy New Home in Record Time with Regional Business Leader

In the above, photograph, Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede stands with MidJersey Chamber CEO Robert “Bob” Prunetti holding his new 9 week-old Shih Tzu/Yorkshire Terrier mix, Tullula, which he recently adopted during the puppy’s ‘Day with the Mayor’. Photograph courtesy of Hamilton Township.

Typically, when Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede and MidJersey Chamber CEO
Robert “Bob” Prunetti meet, it is to discuss ways to keep the local economy
moving in the right direction.

But recently, a meeting between the two leaders led to something
different – an adoptable shelter pet finding a new home in record
time.

As an animal lover and advocate for Hamilton’s Animal Shelter, Mayor
Kelly Yaede periodically brings a pet from the shelter to spend the day with
her, including coming to the Mayor’s Office.

“It not only helps the shelter pets to socialize with humans and gets
them outside of the shelter for a day, but so far, it has helped lead to the
adoption of 9 pets,” says Mayor Yaede. “This week, it led to our quickest
adoption yet when Bob came to our office for a meeting regarding economic
development.”

“When I walked in and saw this adorable puppy (a 9 week-old Shih
Tzu/Yorkshire Terrier mix that was born at Hamilton’s shelter) and was told
that she was available for adoption, I said ‘I want her!’,” explains
Prunetti. “So I filled out the paperwork, paid the adoption fee and now
Tullulais a new part of our family.”

Since staring the tradition, it has also led to adoptions by other
Township employees who decided to make the pets part of their own families.

“It is a great thing any time we can unite an adoptable pet with a loving
family; and if a day with the Mayor helps achieve that, I am happy to help,”
says Yaede.